| Reykjavik |
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| Reykjavik |
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| Reykjavik is a very vivid city. Half of Iceland's population, around 140,000 people, live in Reykjavik or the surrounding city's. Just outside the city-centre lies a big lake, with lots of geese. Mind your step. |
| The big church can be seen from far away. It was built from ... to ... The columns next to the tower resemble basalt-columns. It is supposed to be very impressive inside as well, but for some strange reason we were only near the church júst after 6 o'clock, closing-time. The Viking in front of the church is the first European in America, or Wine-land, as the Vikings called it. And we think of Vikings as beer-drinking types. |
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| Another sight is Perlan, the Pearl. The six enormous barrels hold hot water, for energy. The dome on top is a restaurant, which rotates slowly. Just below it is a cafeteria, where the soup has a more reasonable price. At this level you have to do the walking around yourself to have a look all over the town. |
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| Iceland gives you ideas about Vikings and Scandinavian design. This sculpture of a Viking-ship, at the harbour of Reykjavik, unites those. |
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The open air museum Arbćjarsafn has a lot of houses and shops from all over Iceland. The staff is dressed in historical costumes and performs historical tasks, like spinning wool with a spinning wheel, baking cookies and selling candy. |
| There is also a movie about Reykjavik in the 20th century, a bit like Holland in the 20th century but nevertheless different. More isolated and on its own, we think. |
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In Reykjavik are some big events. When we were there, there was the Gay Pride weekend, with a big parade. Unfortunately it poured during the parade, so we didn't have a look at it. The next weekend there was a marathon ánd the cultural evening. Events like like attract thousands of people. You better book a room in advance, otherwise a bench in the park may be your fate. |
| The Blue Lagoon, halfway the airport and Reykjavik, is very famous. The baths are heated with geothermal energy (in fact, Blue Lagoon is filled with wastewater of the electricity-plant, which cooled the water down from almost 100 degrees to a mere 40). In Reykjavik are several swimming-pools. They all have warm geothermal water and hot-pots. It is quite an experience to lie in a hot-pot and look over Reykjavik at the same time. The backside are some of the ideas of Icelandic people about hygiene: although you have to shower yourself with soap and without bathing suit before entering the swimming-pool. it is quite normal to spit a large, green slimy thing into the water. Yuk ... |
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Reykjavik has two airports: the small one with only national flights in the city itself, close to the big lake, and Keflavik International Airport, some 40 kilometres away. Here, you are welcomed by a glass rainbow, by Runi, an Icelandic artist. She hopes that someday the rest of the rainbow will be made as well. |
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